A little seed money is well on its way to making a big impact in East Baton Rouge. Copper Mill Elementary School is currently using LHCC Community Grant funding to improve nutrition for almost 900 fifth and sixth--grade students – and aims to reach more people in the future.
Located in Zachary, LA, Copper Mill Elementary is located in the northern section of East Baton Rouge, where the adult obesity rate is 36%, and there is limited access to fresh, nutritious foods. Copper Mill Elementary hopes to decrease this obesity rate, by helping their students and families have access to healthier food options through a school garden and healthy cooking classes. Copper Mill Elementary was a perfect place for this kind of project, because the Science teacher, Sandra Saye Foucqueteau, has worked at the school for 10 years, is a classically trained chef, and has added weekly Healthy Cooking Classes to the school since 2022.
Maintained by students at Copper Mill Elementary, the garden includes several raised bed gardens and organic compost. Students are using seeds to plant seasonal crops all year round and will maintain the garden through watering and weeding. Any crops harvested by the students will then be used in several different cooking classes throughout the year, where they will then have hands-on nutrition, cooking, and food preparation lessons.
Through the school garden and healthy cooking club initiatives, Copper Mill students will learn more about gardening, nutrition, and cooking, empowering them to make healthier food choices. By helping the students develop healthier eating habits now, they will hopefully carry these same eating habits with them into adulthood, leading to a lasting, healthier lifestyle. Students can also share their newfound skills with their family members, helping to create a healthier community beyond Copper Mill Elementary.
Do you have an idea for a healthy community project? Apply for an LHCC Community Grant! Grant applications will be released this summer. Please sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook to be notified when applications open.